New Stockholders’ Agreement STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT by and among ION MEDIA NETWORKS, INC., CIG MEDIA LLC and NBC UNIVERSAL, INC. Dated as of May 4, 2007
by and
among
ION
MEDIA NETWORKS, INC.,
CIG
MEDIA LLC
and
Dated as
of May 4, 2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
|||
Section
1. |
Definitions
|
1
|
|
Section
2. |
Methodology
for Calculations; Effective Date |
11
|
|
Section
3. |
Corporate
Governance |
11
|
|
3.1.
|
Board of
Directors |
11
|
|
3.2.
|
Committees
|
13
|
|
3.3.
|
Vacancies;
Resignation; Removal |
14
|
|
3.4.
|
Cooperation
|
15
|
|
3.5.
|
Expenses
|
15
|
|
3.6.
|
Directors’
Indemnification |
15
|
|
Section
4. |
Right of
First Offer and Last Offer |
15
|
|
Section
5. |
Approval
of Certain Matters |
16
|
|
Section
6. |
Other
Company Covenants |
18
|
|
Section
7. |
Financial
Statements and Other Reports |
21
|
|
7.1
|
Delivery
of Financial Statements and Other Reports: |
21
|
|
7.2
|
Provision
of Information |
24
|
|
Section
8. |
Transactions
with Affiliates |
24
|
|
Section
9. |
NBCU
Right of First Refusal |
24
|
|
Section
10. |
Company
Equity Issuances |
25
|
|
Section
11. |
Legend
|
26
|
|
Section
12. |
Representations
and Warranties |
27
|
|
Section
13. |
Competitive
Opportunities |
28
|
|
Section
14. |
Duration
of Agreement |
28
|
|
Section
15. |
Further
Assurances |
28
|
|
Section
16. |
Amendment
and Waiver |
29
|
|
Section
17. |
Entire
Agreement |
29
|
|
Section
18. |
Successors
and Assigns |
29
|
|
Section
19. |
Severability
|
29
|
|
Section
20. |
Remedies
|
30
|
|
Section
21. |
Notices
|
30
|
|
Section
22. |
Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial |
32
|
|
Section
23. |
Construction
|
32
|
|
Section
24. |
Survival
of Representations and Warranties |
32
|
|
Section
25. |
Conflicting
Agreements |
32
|
|
Section
26. |
Counterparts
|
33
|
i
This
STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is made as of May 4, 2007 by and among ION
Media Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“the “Company”),
CIG Media LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CIG
Media”),
and NBC Universal, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NBCU”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Company, CIG Media, NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., NBC Palm Beach
Investment II, Inc. and NBCU entered into a Master Transaction Agreement, dated
as of May 3, 2007 (as such agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or
restated from time to time, the “Master
Agreement”),
pursuant to which the parties agreed to undertake various transactions to
restructure the Company’s ownership and capital structure (the
“Transactions”);
and
WHEREAS,
as an integral part of the Transactions, the parties hereto deem it to be in
their best interests and in the best interests of the Company to enter into an
agreement establishing and setting forth their agreement with respect to
certain rights and obligations associated with ownership of shares of capital
stock of the Company and the governance and operation of the
Company.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and
obligations hereinafter set forth, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section
1. Definitions. As
used herein, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“Acceptance
Notice”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10(a).
“Accepted
Shares”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10(a).
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such
Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including its
correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control
with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or
cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of
securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or
otherwise); provided,
however, that,
for purposes hereof, neither the Company nor any Person controlled by the
Company shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Stockholder.
“Agreement”
means this Stockholders’ Agreement, as amended, modified, supplemented or
restated from time to time.
“Approval
Stockholder”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.
“Asset
Sale”
means the Sale (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) in any
single transaction or series of related transactions involving assets with a
fair market value in excess of $2,000,000 of (i) any capital stock of or other
equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) the assets of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) real property, (iv) the
assets of any media property or part thereof owned by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, or a division, line of business or comparable
business segment of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or (v) any
transaction involving the assignment of an FCC license or transfer of control
of an FCC licensee for a Company Station; provided, that
“Asset
Sales”
shall not include Sales to the Company or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the
Company or to any other Person if after giving effect to such Sale, such other
Person becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.
“Board”
means the board of directors of the Company as constituted from time to
time.
“Budget”
means for any fiscal year, the annual operating budget for the Company,
including the Network (but specifically excluding all Company Station
operations and programming, except for Same Market Stations), which shall
include Network programming items (including capital expenditures, general
corporate overhead expenses and other operating expenses), prepared by the
Company; provided, that
if the Company, the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU Parties fail to agree on an
annual operating budget for any fiscal year, the Budget shall be the Budget for
the previous year.
“Business
Day”
means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks
in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law to close.
“Call
Shares”
means the 15,455,062 shares of Class A Common Stock and the 8,311,639 shares of
Class B Common Stock to be acquired by CIG Media pursuant to the Master
Agreement and the Call Agreement, dated November 7, 2005, among Xx. Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx, Second Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Limited Partnership, Xxxxxx Enterprises, Inc.
and NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc.
“CIG
Media”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
“CIG
Media Directors”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(i).
“CIG
Media Observers”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(iii).
“CIG
Media Parties”
means CIG Media and any of its Affiliates that owns any Stock.
“Class A
Common Stock”
means Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
“Class B
Common Stock”
means Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
2
“Class C
Common Stock”
means Class C non-voting common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Company.
“Class D
Common Stock”
means Class D non-voting common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Company.
“Closing
Date”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.01 of the Master
Agreement.
“CM
Selling Stockholder”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.
“Code”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“Common
Stock”
means the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock, the Class C Common
Stock, the Class D Common Stock, any other class of common stock of the Company
hereafter created and any other securities of the Company into which such
Common Stock may be reclassified, exchanged or converted pursuant to a merger,
consolidation, stock split, stock dividend, restructuring or recapitalization
of the Company or otherwise.
“Common
Stock Equivalents”
means, with respect to any Person, securities issued by such Person which are
convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of capital stock
or other Equity Securities of such Person (including any option, warrant, or
other right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire, or any note or
debt security convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of capital stock or
other Equity Securities of such Person).
“Communications
Act”
means the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (including, without
limitation, the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, the Cable Television
Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 and the Telecommunications Act
of 1996), and all rules and regulations of the FCC, in each case as from time
to time in effect.
“Company”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
“Company
Benefit Plan”
means each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3)
of ERISA, other than Multiemployer Plans, and each other stock purchase, stock
option, restricted stock, severance, retention, employment, consulting,
change-of-control, collective bargaining, bonus, incentive, deferred
compensation, employee loan, fringe benefit and other benefit plan, agreement,
program, policy, commitment or other arrangement, whether or not subject to
ERISA (including any related funding mechanism now in effect or required in the
future), whether formal or informal, oral or written, in each case under which
any past or present director, officer, employee, consultant or independent
contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any present or future
right to benefits.
“Company
Stations”
means, collectively, each full-power television, low-power television and
television translator station owned and operated by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company.
3
“Competitive
Opportunity”
means an investment or business opportunity or prospective economic or
competitive advantage in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries could
have an interest or expectancy.
“DMA”
means a designated market area as determined by Xxxxxxx Media Research or such
successor designation of television markets that may in the future be
recognized by the FCC for determining television markets.
“Effective
Date”
means the earlier of the date on which (i) the aggregate number of shares of
Class A Common Stock owned by the CIG Media Parties (including the shares of
Class A Common Stock owned by the CIG Media Parties prior to the Commencement
Date and the shares of Class A Common Stock accepted for payment by CIG Media
in the Tender Offer) represents a majority of the shares of Class A Common
Stock outstanding or (ii) Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and his Affiliates no longer
beneficially own any Call Shares; provided,
however, that
in the event the Effective Date is as described in clause (i) of this
definition, Sections 3, 5, 9 and 10 shall not become effective until the Call
Closing (as defined in the Master Agreement).
“Environmental
Laws”
means all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, statutes,
ordinances, codes, rules, standards and regulations, now or hereafter in
effect, in each case as amended from time to time, and any applicable judicial
or administrative interpretation thereof, including any applicable judicial or
administrative order, consent decree, order or judgment, imposing liability or
standards of conduct for or relating to the regulation and protection of human
health, safety, the environment and natural resources (including ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, wetlands, land surface or subsurface strata,
wildlife, aquatic species and vegetation).
“Environmental
Liabilities”
means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities, obligations,
responsibilities, response, remedial and removal costs, investigation and
feasibility study costs, capital costs, operation and maintenance costs,
losses, damages, punitive damages, property damages, natural resource damages,
consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses (including all fees,
disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts and consultants), fines,
penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of or related to any
claim, suit, action, investigation, proceeding or demand by any Person, whether
based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability,
criminal or civil statute or common law, including any arising under or related
to any Environmental Laws, Environmental Permits, or in connection with any
Release or threatened Release or presence of a Hazardous Material whether on,
at, in, under, from or about or in the vicinity of any real or personal
property.
“Environmental
Permits”
means all permits, licenses, authorizations, certificates, approvals or
registrations required by any Governmental Entity under any Environmental
Laws.
“Equity
Securities”
means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock or other equity security
of such Person, including any Common Stock Equivalents of such
Person.
“ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (and any
sections of the Code), as amended, and all rules and regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
4
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control
with the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or which, together with the
Company or such Subsidiary of the Company, is treated as a single employer
within the meaning of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the
Code.
“ERISA
Event”
means (i) the occurrence of any event described in Section 4043(c) of
ERISA with respect to a Title IV Plan; (ii) the
requirement that notice be provided pursuant to Section 4043(b) of ERISA; (iii)
the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a Title IV Plan;
(iv) the cessation of operations at a facility of the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (v) the
conditions for imposition of a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA have been met
with respect to any Title IV Plan; (vi) the adoption of an amendment to a Title
IV Plan requiring the provision of security thereto pursuant to Section 307 of
ERISA; (vii) the
withdrawal of the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
from a Title IV Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year
in which it was a substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA; (viii) the complete or partial withdrawal of the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from any Multiemployer Plan;
(ix) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Title IV Plan or the
treatment of a plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of
ERISA; (x) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Title IV Plan or
Multiemployer Plan by the PBGC; (xi) the failure by the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to make when due required
contributions to a Multiemployer Plan or Title IV Plan unless such failure is
cured within 30 days; (xii) any other event or condition which might
reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA
for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Title IV Plan or Multiemployer Plan or for the imposition of liability under
Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; (xiii) the termination of a
Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the reorganization or
insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4241 of ERISA;
(xiv) the loss of a Qualified Plan’s qualification or tax-exempt
status; or (xv) the termination of a Company Benefit Plan described in
Section 4064 of ERISA.
“Exchange
Act”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded
Securities”
means (i) options issued by the Company pursuant to any Company Benefit
Plan (and any Equity Securities issuable upon exercise thereof or thereunder)
and any Equity Securities issued by the Company to any employee of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or to any member of the Board pursuant to any
Company Benefit Plan, in each case as approved by the Board in connection with,
or after, the consummation of the Transactions; (ii) any Equity Securities
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (and any Common Stock issuable
thereunder) issued by the Company in connection with any transaction determined
by the Board to be a strategic transaction; provided, that
none of any of the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties is acquiring such
Equity Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any such
transaction and that such transaction has been approved by the CIG Media
Parties and the NBCU Parties prior to the issuance of such Equity Securities;
(iii) shares of Common Stock issued in connection with an IPO and (iv) any
shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of any Convertible Securities (as
defined in the Master Agreement).
5
“FCC”
means the Federal Communications Commission or any successor Governmental
Entity performing functions similar to those performed by the Federal
Communications Commission on the date hereof.
“Hazardous
Material”
means any substance, material or waste which is regulated by, or forms the
basis of liability now or hereafter under, any Environmental Laws, including
any material or substance which is (i) defined as a “solid waste,”
“hazardous waste,” “hazardous material,” “hazardous
substance,” “extremely hazardous waste,” “restricted
hazardous waste,” “pollutant,” “contaminant,”
hazardous constituent,” “special waste,” toxic substance”
or other similar term or phrase under any Environmental Laws or (ii) petroleum
or any fraction or by product thereof, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), or any radioactive substance.
“GAAP”
means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
in effect from time to time.
“Governmental
Entity”
means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local or other
government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or
commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.
“Group”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in subsection 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act.
“HSR
Act”
means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“IPO”
means the initial underwritten offering pursuant to which the Common Stock
becomes registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
“Issuance
Period”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10(b).
“Issuance
Stock”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.
“Lien”
means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien
(statutory or other) or security agreement of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement or any financing lease having substantially the same effect as any of
the foregoing).
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means any event, change, circumstance or effect that, individually or when
taken together with all other such events, changes, circumstances or effects,
is or is reasonably expected to (i) with respect to the Company, be materially
adverse to the business, assets, liabilities, results of operations or
financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or
(ii) with respect to any party to any Transaction Agreement, have a
material adverse effect on the ability of such party to perform its obligations
under such Transaction Agreement to which it is a party.
“Master
Agreement”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.
“Minimum
Investment”
means 10% of the outstanding Voting Shares.
6
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means a “multiemployer
plan”
as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA and to which the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is making (i) is obligated to
make, or has made or been obligated to make, contributions on behalf of
participants who are or were employed by any of them or (ii) could have
liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been
or were to be terminated.
“National
Coverage”
means, with respect to any television network, the percentage of national
television households that receive such network’s broadcast as listed in
the Xxxxxxx Television Index or such successor measure of coverage equivalent
thereto generally adopted by the television industry.
“NBCU”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.
“NBCU
Directors”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(ii).
“NBCU
Option I”
means the option granted to NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. to purchase all
of the Call Shares from CIG Media pursuant to the Option I Call
Agreement.
“NBCU
Option II”
means the option granted to NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc. to purchase
26,688,361 shares of Class B Common Stock from the Company pursuant to the
Option II Call Agreement.
“NBCU
Parties”
means NBCU and any if its Affiliates that own any Stock.
“NBCU
Observers”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(iii).
“Network”
means any television broadcast network owned by the Company.
“Observers”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(iii).
“Option
I Call Agreement”
means the Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, between the CIG Media and NBC Palm
Beach Investment II, Inc., as such agreement may be amended, modified,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
“Option
II Call Agreement”
means the Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, among the Company and NBC Palm
Beach Investment I, Inc., as such agreement may be amended, modified,
supplemented or restated from time to time.
“PBGC”
means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor
thereto.
“Permitted
Liens”
means (i) mechanics’, carriers’, repairmen’s or other like Liens
arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Liens arising
under original purchase price conditioned sales contracts and equipment leases
with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, (iii) statutory Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable,
(iv) Liens securing the indebtedness included as “long-term debt” on
the financial statements of the Company or securing any indebtedness that
replaces or refinances any
7
of such
indebtedness and (v) other encumbrances or restrictions or imperfections of
title which do not materially impair the continued use and operation of the
assets to which they relate.
“Person”
means an individual, corporation, unincorporated association, partnership,
Group, trust, joint stock company, joint venture, business trust or
unincorporated organization, limited liability company, Governmental Entity or
any other entity of whatever nature.
“Plan
Options”
means options, restricted stock and any other stock-based compensation awards
issued or issuable under any stock-based compensation plan approved by the
Board or any employment, consulting or similar agreements in effect as of the
date hereof or entered into after the date hereof and approved by the Board.
“Preemptive
Acceptance Period”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10(a).
“Preemptive
Offer”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10(a).
“Preemptive
Offer Notice”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10(a).
“Preemptive
Percentage”
means, as to each Preemptive Stockholder, the quotient obtained (expressed as a
percentage) by dividing (i) the number of shares of Stock owned by the
Preemptive Stockholder on the date of the Preemptive Offer (assuming for this
purpose that all Common Stock Equivalents of the Company then owned by such
Preemptive Stockholder are fully exercised, converted or exchanged for shares
of Common Stock) by (ii) the total number of shares of Stock owned by all
Preemptive Stockholders on the date of the Preemptive Offer (assuming for this
purpose that all Common Stock Equivalents of the Company then outstanding are
fully exercised, converted or exchanged for shares of Common Stock). For
purposes of calculating the Preemptive Percentage of any Preemptive
Stockholder, no Preemptive Stockholder shall be treated as owning the shares of
Common Stock held by Affiliates of such Preemptive Stockholder but rather such
Affiliates shall be treated as owning such shares of Common Stock.
“Preemptive
Stockholders”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10(a).
“Prior
Stockholder Agreement”
means the Stockholder Agreement, dated November 7, 2005, among Xx. Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx, certain of his Affiliates, the Company and NBCU.
“Public
Sale”
means a Sale of Stock pursuant to a bona fide underwritten public offering
pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act
or pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (other than in a privately
negotiated Sale).
“Qualified
Plan”
means a Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be tax-qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code.
8
“Release”
means any release, threatened release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping,
pouring, emitting, emptying, escape, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge,
dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of Hazardous Material in the indoor
or outdoor environment, including the movement of Hazardous Material through or
in the air, soil, surface water, ground water or property.
“Same
Market Station”
means any Company Station (i) in which any Person that holds the Minimum
Investment would be permitted to have an attributable interest under the
ownership rules adopted by the FCC, as such rules may be amended from time to
time, and (ii) which, even if such Person were deemed to have an attributable
interest therein, would not increase such Person’s national broadcast
coverage as calculated under the FCC’s national ownership rules because
such Person has an attributable interest in a television station in the same
DMA.
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other federal agency which
at such time administers the Securities Act.
“Securities
Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Sell”
means (i) for purposes of this Agreement other than Section 10, to sell,
transfer, lease, convey, assign, distribute, pledge, encumber or otherwise
dispose of (but excluding any Sale to an Affiliate), either directly or
indirectly, voluntarily or involuntarily, or by merger, sale, consolidation or
otherwise, and (ii) for purposes of Section 10, to issue or directly or
indirectly sell or exchange, or agree to issue, sell or exchange; and the terms
“Sale”
and “Sold”
shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Senior
Preferred Stock”
means the
13¼% Cumulative Junior Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001
per share (currently accruing dividends at the rate of 14¼%), of the
Company, with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share and the 9¾%
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Company, with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per share, in each case as
may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
“Series
B Preferred Stock”
means the 11% Series B Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value
$0.001 per share, of the Company, with a liquidation preference of $10,000 per
share, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to
time.
“Station
Offer Notice”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.1(a).
“Station
Offer Price”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.1(a).
“Station
Third Party”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.1(a).
“Station
Transfer”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(f).
9
“Stock”
(including references to “shares
of Stock”)
means (i) any shares of Common Stock and (ii) any Common Stock
Equivalents of the Company, in each case, whether outstanding on the date
hereof or created hereafter.
“Stockholders”
means the CIG Media Parties, the NBCU Parties and any other holder of Stock who
acquires shares of Stock from the NBCU Parties or the CIG Media Parties and as
a condition precedent to the consummation of such acquisition, executes and
delivers to the Company a joinder agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to the Company, a corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture or other entity of which shares of stock or
other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or
such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the
happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or
other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time
owned, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries (including,
without limitation, other Subsidiaries), or both, by the Company.
“Tax”
means, with respect to any Person, all taxes, assessments and other
governmental charges, duties, impositions and liabilities (including any tax on
or based upon net income, gross income, or income as specially defined, or
earnings, profits, or selected items of income, earnings or profits) and all
alternative or add-on minimum tax, profits or excess profits tax, franchise
tax, gross income, gross receipts tax, license, employment related tax, real or
personal property tax or ad valorem tax, sales, social service, goods and
services or use tax, customs, excise tax, stamp tax, land transfer tax, any
withholding or backup withholding tax, value added tax, customs duties, capital
stock, severance tax, prohibited transaction tax, premiums tax, environmental,
windfall profits, occupation tax, capital tax, together with any interest and
any penalty, additions to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental
Entity on such person and any obligations under any legally binding agreements
or arrangements with any other person with respect to such amounts and
including any liability for the aforementioned taxes of a predecessor
entity.
“Title
IV Plan”
means an employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA
(other than a Multiemployer Plan), which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, and
which the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate (i)
maintains, contributes to or has an obligation to contribute to on behalf of
participants who are or were employed by any of them or (ii) could have had
liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were
to be terminated.
“Transactions”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.
“Transaction
Agreements”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.01 of the Master
Agreement.
“Unapproved
Items”
has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5(c).
“Voting
Shares”
means the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and any other
Stock of the Company having the ordinary power to vote in the election of
members of the Board.
10
Section
2. Methodology
for Calculations;
Effective Date.
(a) Except
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, for purposes of calculating
(i) the number of Voting Shares as of any particular date and
(ii) the number of outstanding Voting Shares owned by a Person hereunder
(and the percentage of the Voting Shares owned by a Person), such number of
Voting Shares shall be calculated as though each Common Stock Equivalent of the
Company had been on such date converted into, or exchanged or exercised for,
the number of Voting Shares which such Common Stock Equivalent would be
entitled to be converted into or exchanged or exercised for. In the event of
any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, any combination of Voting
Shares or any similar event, with respect to all references in this Agreement
to a Stockholder or Stockholders holding a number of Voting Shares, the
applicable number shall be appropriately adjusted to give effect to such stock
split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, any combination of Voting Shares or
any similar event). For purposes of calculating any Person’s outstanding
voting power of the Company pursuant to Sections 3.1(b)(i) and 3.1(b)(ii), at
any time prior to the exercise of the NBCU Option II pursuant to the Option II
Call Agreement, the NBCU Option II shall not be deemed as converted into, or
exchanged or exercised for, the number of Voting Shares which such NBCU Option
II would be entitled to be converted, exchanged or exercised.
(b) As of
the Effective Date, this Agreement shall become effective and the Investment
Agreement, dated November 7, 2005, between the Company and NBCU shall terminate
in its entirety and shall have no further force or effect. As of the date on
which Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and his Affiliates no longer beneficially own any
Call Shares, the Prior Stockholder Agreement shall terminate in its entirety
and shall have no further force or effect. In the event the Effective Date
occurs prior to the termination of the Prior Stockholder Agreement, to the
extent that any of the terms hereof are inconsistent with the rights of the
NBCU Parties or the obligations of the Company under the Prior Stockholder
Agreement but do not otherwise adversely affect the rights of Xx. Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx and his Affiliates under the Prior Stockholder Agreement, this Agreement
shall govern.
Section
3. Corporate
Governance
3.1. Board
of Directors
(a) The
Company shall cause its by-laws to be duly amended to provide that the Board
shall be comprised of 13 directors or such other number of directors as may
from time to time be determined by the Board and approved in accordance with
Section 5(k). Until the date the shares of Class A Common Stock are delisted
from the American Stock Exchange and deregistered with the SEC, each of the
Company, the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU Parties shall use its reasonable
best efforts to ensure that the composition of the Board and of each committee
of the Board satisfies the listing requirements of the American Stock
Exchange.
(b) Without
limiting the generality of Section 3.1(a), and subject to any restrictions
imposed by applicable law, including the Communications Act:
(i) for so
long as the CIG Media Parties hold greater than 50% of the outstanding
voting
power of the Company, the CIG Media Parties shall have the
11
right to
designate seven members of the Board; provided,
that if at
such time at which the CIG Media Parties hold less than 50% of the outstanding
voting power of the Company but more than 20% of the number of outstanding
Voting Shares, the CIG Media Parties shall have the right to designate two
members of the Board (the
persons from time to time designated by the CIG Media Parties in accordance
with this Section 3.1(b)(i) being referred to herein as the “CIG
Media Directors”).
(ii) if at
any time, the NBCU Parties hold a number of outstanding Voting Shares that is
more than 20% of the number of outstanding Voting Shares, the NBCU Parties
shall have the right to nominate two members of the Board; provided, that
if at such time the NBCU Parties hold greater than 50% of the outstanding
voting power of the Company, the NBCU Parties shall have the right to nominate
seven members of the Board (the persons from time to time nominated by the NBCU
Parties in accordance with this Section 3.1(b)(ii) and elected to the Board
being referred to herein as the “NBCU
Directors”).
For the avoidance of doubt, until such time as NBCU determines, in its
reasonable discretion, that the Communications Act permits the NBCU Parties to
nominate an employee of NBCU or any of its Affiliates to be an NBCU Director,
no individual nominated by the NBCU Parties to be an NBCU Director shall be an
employee of NBCU or any of its Affiliates.
(iii) if at
any time, for any reason, no CIG Media Directors serve as members of the Board,
the CIG Media Parties may appoint two representatives (the “CIG
Media Observers”),
and if at any time, for any reason, no NBCU Directors serve as members of the
Board, the NBCU Parties may appoint two representatives (the “NBCU
Observers”
and, together with CIG Media Observers, the “Observers”);
provided, that
the right to appoint the Observers in accordance with this Section 3.1(b)(iii)
shall terminate with respect to the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties, as
the case may be, if such Person holds less than 10% of the number of
outstanding Voting Shares. Each of the Observers shall be entitled to receive
notice of and have the right to attend any and all meetings of the Board and
any of its standing committees in an observer capacity, and the Company shall
provide each Observer with copies of all notices, minutes, consents and other
material at the same time as such materials are distributed to members of the
Board and shall be entitled to participate in discussions and consult with, and
make proposals and furnish advice to, the Board; provided, that
(A) the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU Parties, as applicable, shall cause
their respective Observers to agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act
in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information provided to him pursuant
hereto and (B) the Company and the Board shall have the right to withhold any
information and to exclude any Observer from any meeting or portion thereof (1)
if doing so is, in the Board’s reasonable discretion, advisable or
necessary to protect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its
counsel or (2) if the Board determines in good faith that fiduciary
requirements under applicable law would prohibit attendance by such Observer.
The Observers shall have no right to vote on any matters presented to the
Board.
12
(iv) for so
long as Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx is entitled to be a director of the Company under
the terms of his employment agreement with the Company, he shall be designated
to serve as a member of the Board. At such time as Xx. Xxxxxxx shall no
longer serve as chief executive officer of the Company, any subsequent chief
executive officer of the Company shall, subject to the prior written consent of
the NBCU Parties and the CIG Media Parties, be designated to serve as a member
of the Board.
(c) Subject
to Sections 3.3(b) and 3.3(d), at any regular or special meeting of
stockholders of the Company called for the purpose of electing members to serve
on the Board, or, to the extent permitted by the certificate of incorporation
of the Company, in any written consent electing members to serve on the Board
executed in lieu of such a meeting, each of the Stockholders agrees to vote all
Voting Shares held by them, and to take all other necessary action, to cause
the individuals designated by the CIG Media Parties in accordance with
Section 3.1(b)(i) to be directors of the Company.
(d) Except
as required by applicable law and subject to Section 5, the business and
affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
At all meetings of the Board, a quorum shall consist of not less than a
majority of the total number of the members of the Board then holding office.
All actions of the Board shall require the affirmative vote of at least a
majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present. Subject to applicable law, any action that may be taken at a meeting
of the Board may also be taken by written consent of all of the members of the
Board in lieu of a meeting.
3.2. Committees
(a) The
Board shall appoint and maintain an executive committee, an audit committee, a
compensation committee and such other committees as may be approved by the
Board.
(b) Subject
to Sections 3.1(b) and 3.3(d) and any restrictions imposed by applicable law,
the Company shall, (i) if requested by the CIG Media Parties, take all actions
necessary to cause each CIG Media Director to be appointed to any committee of
the Board or to any committee of the board of directors or other similar
managing body of any Subsidiary of the Company on which the CIG Media Parties
request that such appointment be made and (ii) if requested by the NBCU
Parties, take all actions necessary to cause each NBCU Director to be appointed
to any committee of the Board or to any committee of the board of directors or
other similar managing body of any Subsidiary of the Company on which the NBCU
Parties request that such appointment be made; provided, that
in no event shall the percentage of the CIG Media Directors and the NBCU
Directors, as the case may be, serving on each such committee exceed the
percentage of the CIG Media Directors and the NBCU Directors, as the case may
be, serving on the Board at such time.
(c) Subject
to Sections 3.1(b) and 3.3(d) and any restrictions imposed by applicable law,
the Company shall, (i) if requested by the CIG Media Parties, take all actions
necessary to cause each CIG Media Director to be appointed to the board of
directors or other
13
similar
managing body of any Subsidiary of the Company on which the CIG Media Parties
request that such appointment be made and (ii) if requested by the NBCU
Parties, take all actions necessary to cause each NBCU Director to be appointed
to the board of directors or other similar managing body of any Subsidiary of
the Company on which the NBCU Parties request that such appointment be
made.
3.3. Vacancies;
Resignation; Removal
(a) Subject
to Sections 3.3(d) and 3.3(e), each director shall hold his office until
the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company for the year in which his
term expires and until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified,
subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or
removal from office.
(b) If any
CIG Media Director shall cease for any reason to serve as a director of the
Company for any reason, the vacancy resulting thereby shall be filled by
another individual selected by the CIG Media Parties to replace such director.
If any CIG Media Director serving on any committee of the Board or on any board
of directors or other similar managing body (and any committee thereof) of any
Subsidiary of the Company shall cease for any reason to serve as a member of
any such committee, board of directors, or other similar managing body, as the
case may be, he shall be succeeded by another CIG Media Director selected by
the CIG Media Parties if the CIG Media Parties are then entitled to designate a
CIG Media Director to replace such director.
(c) If any
NBCU Director shall cease for any reason to serve as a director of the Company
for any reason, the vacancy resulting thereby shall be filled by another
individual selected by the NBCU Parties to replace such director. If any NBCU
Director serving on any committee of the Board or on any board of directors or
other similar managing body (and any committee thereof) of any Subsidiary of
the Company shall cease for any reason to serve as a member of any such
committee, board of directors, or other similar managing body, as the case may
be, he shall be succeeded by another NBCU Director selected by the NBCU Parties
if the NBCU Parties are then entitled to designate an NBCU Director to replace
such director.
(d) In the
event that the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties, as the case may be, lose
their right to designate one or more directors pursuant to Section 3.1(b)
as a result of ceasing to hold the requisite percentage ownership of Voting
Shares or as a result of any restrictions imposed by applicable law, including
the Communications Act, the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties, as the case
may be, shall cause one or more of such their designees to resign from the
Board (and any committee thereof) and from any board of directors or other
similar managing body (and any committee thereof) of any Subsidiary of the
Company; provided, that
if the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties, as the case may be, retain the
right to designate any directors pursuant to Section 3.1(b), such parties
shall have the right to select which of their designee or designees shall
resign pursuant to this Section 3.3(d) and which of their designee or
designees will continue to serve on the Board.
(e) Subject
to Section 3.3(d), the removal from the Board of any CIG Media Director or
the NBCU Director, as the case may be, shall be only at the written request of
the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties, as the case may be. Upon receipt of
any such written
14
request
by the Board, the Board and the Stockholders shall promptly take all such
action necessary or desirable to cause the removal of such director from
office.
3.4. Cooperation
Each
Stockholder shall vote all of its Voting Shares and shall take all other
necessary or desirable actions within its control (including attending all
meetings in person or by proxy for purposes of obtaining a quorum and executing
all written consents in lieu of meetings, as applicable) and the Company shall
take all necessary and desirable actions within its control (including
providing therefor in its organizational documents and calling special Board
and stockholder meetings) to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.
3.5. Expenses
The
Company shall pay and reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by each member of the Board in connection with performing his duties as a
member of the Board, including reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
such person for attending meetings of the Board, and meetings of any committee
of the Board and any board of directors or other similar managing body
(including any committee thereof) of any Subsidiary of the Company of which
such individual is a member.
3.6. Directors’
Indemnification
(a) The
certificate of incorporation, bylaws and other organizational documents of the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall at all times, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, provide for indemnification of, advancement of expenses to,
and limitation of the personal liability of, the members of the Board and the
members of the boards of directors or other similar managing bodies of each of
the Company’s Subsidiaries and such other persons, if any, who, pursuant
to a provision of such certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other
organizational documents, exercise or perform any of the powers or duties
otherwise conferred or imposed upon members of the Board or the boards of
directors or other similar managing bodies of each of the Company’s
Subsidiaries. Such provisions may not be amended, repealed or otherwise
modified in any manner adverse to any member of the Board or any member of the
boards of directors or other similar managing bodies of any of the
Company’s Subsidiaries, until at least six years following the date that
neither the CIG Media Parties nor the NBCU Parties are not entitled to
designate any director pursuant to this Agreement and, with respect to any
director, until at least six years following the date such director ceases to
serve as a director of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries
(including following the Sale of the Company).
(b) Each
member of the Board is intended to be a third-party beneficiary of the
obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 3.6, and the
obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be
enforceable by each member of the Board, the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU
Parties.
Section
4. [Intentionally
Omitted]
15
Section
5. Approval
of Certain Matters
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly, take any of the following actions without the prior written
approval of both the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU Parties (for purposes of
this Section 5 and Section 14, all of the CIG Media Parties are deemed to be
one Stockholder and all of the NBCU Parties are deemed to be one Stockholder);
provided that in
the event the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties, as the case may be, hold
less than 25% of the number of outstanding Voting Shares, such
Stockholder’s prior written approval pursuant to this Section 5 shall not
be required (a Stockholder whose prior written approval is required pursuant to
this Section 5 being an “Approval
Stockholder”):
(a) adopt
any shareholders rights plan or enter into any agreement that is material to
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, the provisions of which,
upon the acquisition of Stock by the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties: (i)
would be violated or breached, would require a consent or approval thereunder,
or would result in a default thereof (or an event which, with notice or lapse
of time or both, would constitute a default), (ii) would result in the
termination thereof or accelerate the performance required thereby, or result
in a right of termination or acceleration thereunder, (iii) would result in the
creation of any Lien (except Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or
assets of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company thereunder, (iv) would
disadvantage the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties relative to other
stockholders of the Company on the basis of the size of their shareholdings, or
(v) would otherwise restrict or impede the ability of the CIG Media Parties or
the NBCU Parties to acquire additional shares of Stock, or Sell Stock, in any
manner permitted by the Transaction Agreements; provided, that
the Company may (A) enter into senior loan agreements that contain customary
provisions permitting acceleration of the related indebtedness upon a change of
control or (B) issue debt securities or preferred stock that contain customary
change of control provisions permitting the holders of such debt securities or
preferred stock to demand repurchase of their debt securities or preferred
stock upon a change of control of the Company;
(b) take any
action that would cause any ownership interest in any of the following to be
attributable to the CIG Media Parties (only if at the time of such action, the
CIG Media Parties do not have any attributable interest in the Company but such
action would otherwise cause the CIG Media Parties to have an attributable
interest in the Company) or the NBCU Parties for purposes of FCC regulations:
(i) a U.S. broadcast radio or television station (other than the Same Market
Stations), (ii) a U.S. cable television system, (iii) a U.S. “daily
newspaper” (as such term is defined in Section 73.3555 of the rules and
regulations of the FCC), (iv) any U.S. communications facility operated
pursuant to a license granted by the FCC and subject to the provisions of
Section 310(b) of the Communications Act, or (v) any other business which is
subject to FCC regulations under which the ownership of a Person may be subject
to limitation or restriction as a result of the interest in such business being
attributed to such Person.
(c) approve
(such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) (i) a Budget, (ii) any
expenditures that materially exceed budgeted amounts or (iii) any amendments to
a Budget; provided,
however, that
any Approval Stockholder may withhold its approval of any proposed Budget by
identifying those items of the proposed Budget which are not approved (the
“Unapproved
Items”)
and providing in writing to the Company such party’s basis for
16
withholding
such approval and, in such event, the portions of such proposed Budget which
are not identified as unapproved, shall be deemed to be approved under this
Section 5; provided,
further, that
if the Approval Stockholders fail to approve any Unapproved Item within 30 days
(during which period the Approval Stockholders shall negotiate in good faith
with respect to such Unapproved Item) after an Approval Stockholder identifies
an Unapproved Item, such Unapproved Item shall (notwithstanding such failure to
be approved) be deemed to be approved in the amount reflected in the Budget for
the previous year;
(d) enter
into any agreement or arrangement relating to the digital spectrum of all or
any of the Company Stations, except for any agreement which (i) has a term of
not more than 14 months or (ii) is terminable on not more than 14 months notice
without payment of any material penalty or any other material adverse
consequence suffered by the Company;
(e) amend
the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws in any material
respect, except as may be necessary in connection with (i) the Transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Agreements or (ii) issuances of Stock permitted
under this Agreement and any other Transaction Agreements to which the Company
is a party;
(f) other
than any low-power television stations that do not expand the coverage and
cable carriage of any Company Station, Sell (i) more than 50% of the stock of
any Subsidiary of the Company that owns the primary operating assets of, or a
FCC license of, a Company Station or (ii) the primary operating assets of, or
any FCC license of, a Company Station (each, a “Station
Transfer”),
in each case, if such Company Station is located in any of the 50 largest DMAs
as of the date of such disposition;
(g) except
for any transactions permitted pursuant to Section 5(f), (i) Sell assets
involving, together with all other Sales of assets during any 12-month period,
assets with a fair market value greater than 20% of the book value of the
Company’s consolidated assets reflected on the most recent balance sheet
provided pursuant to Section 7.1(b), (ii) acquire assets, including pursuant to
a merger, consolidation or other business combination, if the consideration
payable for such assets in any single transaction exceeds 5% of the book value
of the Company’s consolidated assets reflected on the most recent balance
sheet provided pursuant to Section 7.1(b) or if the aggregate consideration
payable for such transaction, together with the consideration paid for all such
acquisitions in any 12-month period, exceeds 10% of the book value of the
Company’s consolidated assets reflected on the most recent balance sheet
provided pursuant to Section 7.1(b) (excluding, in each case, transactions
involving issuances of Stock that have been approved pursuant to this Section
5) or (iii) engage in any merger or business combination transaction where the
Company is not the surviving entity or where there is a change of control of
the Company (other than as contemplated by the Transaction
Agreements);
(h) create,
designate, authorize, issue, Sell or grant, or enter into any agreement
providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, any Stock except for
Stock issued (i) upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any Plan Option,
(ii) upon conversion of the Senior Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred
Stock (iii) pursuant to the Transaction Agreements; provided, that
the number of shares of Stock issued or issuable pursuant to clause (i) of this
Section 5(h) shall not exceed 52,000,000 shares (comprised of 27,436,363 shares
in respect of the Company Stock Plans (as defined in the Master Agreement) and
24,563,637 shares in respect of any stock-based compensation plan entered into
after the date hereof and approved by the Board); provided,
further, the
approval of the NBCU Parties shall not be required for the issuance of any
Stock that results in a Mandatory
17
Conversion
Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation or Indenture, as
applicable) for all of the Convertible Securities (as defined in the Master
Agreement);
(i) split,
combine or reclassify any of its Stock in any manner adverse to the CIG Media
Parties or the NBCU Parties, as applicable;
(j) except
as provided in the Transaction Agreements, enter into any employment,
compensation or other agreement with an employee or director of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (other than station managers) that (i) provides for
cash compensation (excluding bonus) reasonably expected to be in excess of
$400,000 per year or (ii) has longer than a three-year term;
(k) increase
the size of the Board other than any increases as a result of a Voting Rights
Triggering Event (as defined in the certificates of designation relating to the
Senior Preferred Stock);
(l) file any
voluntary bankruptcy, wind up of the Company or file for protection under Title
11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors;
or
(m) enter
into any joint sales, joint services, time brokerage, local marketing or
similar agreement or arrangement (other than agreements or arrangements that
may be terminated at no cost to the Company upon six-months’ notice), but
only if after entering into such agreement or arrangement, Company Stations
representing 20% or more of the Company’s National Coverage would be
subject to such agreements or arrangements.
Section
6. Other
Company Covenants
(a) Maintenance
of Existence and Property; FCC Licenses.
The
Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep
in full force and effect its corporate existence and its rights and franchises
material to its business. The Company and each Subsidiary of the Company shall
maintain in good repair, working order and condition all of the properties that
are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, used or
useful in the business of such Person and from time to time shall make or cause
to be made all appropriate (as reasonably determined by such Person) repairs,
renewals and replacements thereof. The Company shall, and shall cause each
Subsidiary of the Company to, use its best efforts to keep in full force and
effect all of its material FCC licenses and shall provide the CIG Media Parties
and the NBCU Parties with a copy of any (or, in the event of any notice based
on knowledge of such Person, a brief description of such default and the basis
of such knowledge) notice from the FCC of any violation with respect to any
material FCC license received by it (or with respect to which such Person may
have any knowledge).
(b) Payment
of Obligations.
Except
as disclosed in the Company’s SEC filings prior to the date hereof, the
Company shall pay and discharge or cause to be paid and discharged before any
penalty accrues
18
thereon
all material Taxes payable by it or any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding
the foreging, the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company may in good faith
contest, by appropriate proceedings, the validity or amount of any Taxes
described in this Section 6(b); provided, that
(i) adequate reserves with respect to such contest are maintained on the books
of such Person, in accordance with GAAP and (ii) such Person shall promptly pay
or discharge such contested Taxes and all additional charges, interest,
penalties and expenses, if any, if such contest is terminated or discontinued
adversely to such Person or the conditions set forth in this Section 6(b) are
no longer met.
(c) Books
and Records.
The
Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Company to, keep adequate
books and records with respect to its business activities in which proper
entries, reflecting all financial transactions, are made in accordance with
GAAP and any applicable law and on a basis consistent with the Company’s
audited financial statements for the twelve-month period ended December 31,
2006.
(d) Insurance.
The
Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Company to, maintain or
cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers,
insurance with respect to its business and properties, including business
interruption insurance, insurance on fixed assets and directors and
officers’ liability insurance, against loss or damage of the kinds
customarily carried or maintained under similar circumstances by entities of
established reputation engaged in similar businesses.
(e) Compliance
with Laws, Etc.
The
Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Company to, comply in all
material respects with all (i) federal, state, local and foreign laws and
regulations applicable to it, including those relating to the Communications
Act, ERISA and labor matters and Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits,
and (ii) provisions of all FCC licenses, certifications and permits,
franchises, or other permits and authorizations relating to the operation of
the Company’s business and all other material agreements, licenses or
leases to which it is a party or of which it is a beneficiary and suffer no
loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder.
(f) Environmental
Matters.
The
Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Company to, and shall
cause each Person within its control to: (i) conduct its operations and
keep and maintain its real estate in compliance with all Environmental Laws and
Environmental Permits other than noncompliance which could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) implement any and all
investigation, remediation, removal and response actions which are appropriate
or necessary to comply with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits
pertaining to the presence, generation, treatment, storage, use, disposal,
transportation or Release of any Hazardous Material on, at, in, under, above,
to, from or about any of its real estate, except as could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) notify the CIG
19
Media
Parties and the NBCU Parties promptly after such Person becomes aware of any
material violation of Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits or any
Release on, at, in, under, above, to, from or about any of its real estate
which is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) promptly
forward to the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU Parties a copy of any order,
notice, request for information or any communication or report received by such
Person in connection with any such violation, Release or any other matter
relating to any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case whether
or not the Environmental Protection Agency or any Governmental Entity has taken
or threatened any action in connection with any such violation, Release or
other matter. The Company shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, cause or permit a Release of any Hazardous Material on, at,
in, under, above, to, from or about any of its real estate where such Release
would violate in any material respect, or form the basis for any material
Environmental Liabilities under, any Environmental Laws or Environmental
Permits.
(g) Material
Adverse Effect.
The
Company shall not make any changes in any of its business objectives, purposes
or operations which could reasonably be expected to have or result in a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company’s ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreements to which
the Company is a party.
(h) ERISA.
The
Company shall not, and shall not cause or permit any ERISA Affiliate to, cause
or permit to occur an event which could result in the imposition of a Lien
under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 or 4068 of ERISA or cause or
permit to occur an ERISA Event to the extent such ERISA Event could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) No
Impairment of Intercompany Transfers.
Except
in connection with any transaction contemplated in any of the Transaction
Agreements, the Company shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to directly or
indirectly enter into or become bound by any agreement, instrument, indenture
or other obligation which could directly or indirectly restrict, prohibit or
require the consent of any Person with respect to the payment of dividends or
distributions or the making or repayment of intercompany loans by any of its
Subsidiaries to another Subsidiary of the Company or the Company.
(j) Limitation
on Certain Asset Sales.
The
Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary of the Company to,
consummate an Asset Sale unless (i) the Company or such Subsidiary of the
Company, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such sale or
other disposition at least equal to the fair market value thereof on the date
the Company or the Subsidiary of the Company (as applicable) entered into the
agreement to consummate such Asset Sale (as determined in good faith by the
Board, and evidenced by a resolution of the Board); (ii) not less than 75% of
the consideration received by the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company, as
the case may be, is in the form of cash or cash equivalents other than in the
case where the Company is
20
exchanging
all or substantially all of the assets of one or more media properties operated
by the Company (including by way of the transfer of capital stock) for all or
substantially all of the assets (including by way of transfer of capital stock)
constituting one or more media properties operated by another Person,
provided that at
least 75% of the consideration received by the Company in such exchange, other
than the media properties, is in the form of cash or cash equivalents; and
(iii) the proceeds of such Asset Sale received by the Company or such
Subsidiary of the Company are applied first, to the extent the Company elects
or is required, to prepay, repay or purchase debt under any then existing
indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company within 180 days
following the receipt of the proceeds of such Asset Sale and second, to the
extent of the balance of the proceeds of such Asset Sale after application as
described above, to the extent the Company elects, to make an investment in
assets (including capital stock or other securities purchased in connection
with the acquisition of capital stock or property of another Person) used or
useful in businesses similar or ancillary to the business of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company as conducted at the time of such Asset Sale,
provided that
such investment occurs or the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company enters
into contractual commitments to make such investment, subject only to customary
conditions (other than the obtaining of financing), on or prior to the 181st
day following receipt of the proceeds of such Asset Sale and the proceeds of
such Asset Sale contractually committed are so applied within 360 days
following the receipt of the proceeds of such Asset Sale.
Section
7. Financial Statements and Other Reports
7.1
Delivery
of Financial Statements and Other Reports. The
Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each
Stockholder:
(a)
Monthly
Financials: as
soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days after the end of each
calendar month of the Company, copies of all monthly financial reports prepared
for the chief executive officer or the chief operating officer of the Company
with respect to the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for and as of the
end of such month, including, without limitation, a monthly balance sheet and
income statement and a comparison of the income statement to the
budget;
(b)
Quarterly
Financials: as
soon as practicable and in any event within five days after it files them with
the SEC (to the extent applicable), a consolidated balance sheet of the Company
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such period, and the related
unaudited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows, as contained in
the Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter provided by the Company to the SEC, and
if such Form 10-Q is not required to be so provided by the Company, then the
Company shall provide each Stockholder, within 45 days after the end of each
fiscal quarter of the Company, with comparable financial statements, certified
by the chief financial officer of the Company that they fairly present the
financial position and results of operations of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries, as appropriate, as at the end of such periods and
for such periods, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end
adjustments;
(c)
Year-End
Financials: as
soon as practicable and in any event within five days after it files them with
the SEC (to the extent applicable), or if the Company is not required to file
such statements with the SEC, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year
of the
21
Company,
the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and the related consolidated
statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company
and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, (i) accompanied by a
report thereon of independent certified public accountants selected by the
Company, which report shall state that the examination by such accountants in
connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards without any limitations being imposed on
the scope of such examination and (ii) certified by the chief financial officer
of the Company that they fairly present the financial position and results of
operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the dates
and for the periods indicated, as appropriate;
(d)
Reconciliation
Statement: if, as
a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those used in
the preparation of the financial statements, the financial statements of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to subsections
(b), (c) or (f) of this Section 7.1 differ in any material respect from the
financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such
subsections had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made,
then, together with the first delivery of financial statements pursuant to
subsection (b), (c) or (f) following such change, financial statements of the
Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries prepared on a pro forma basis, for
(i) the current year to the effective date of such change and (ii) the one full
fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which such change is made,
as if such change had been in effect during such period;
(e)
Accountants’
Certification: so
long as not contrary to the then current recommendations of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the year-end financial statements
delivered pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall be accompanied by a written
statement of the Company’s independent certified public accountants that
in making the examination necessary for certification of such financial
statements nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe
that the Company is not in compliance with the terms of the instruments
governing its outstanding debt or, if any such violation has occurred,
specifying the nature and period of existence thereof, it being understood that
such accountants shall not be liable directly or indirectly for any failure to
obtain knowledge of any such violation;
(f)
Accountants’
Reports:
promptly upon receipt thereof (unless restricted by applicable professional
standards), copies of all significant reports submitted to the Company by
independent public accountants in connection with each annual, interim or
special audit of the financial statements of the Company made by such
accountants, including, without limitation, the comment letter submitted by
such accountants to management in connection with their annual
audit;
(g)
Reports
and Filings: within
five days after the same are sent, copies of all financial statements and
reports which the Company sends to its stockholders, and within five days after
the same are filed, copies of all financials statements and reports which the
Company may make to, or file with, the SEC;
(h)
Events
of Default etc.:
promptly upon, but in any event no later than five Business Days after, any
executive officer of the Company obtaining knowledge (i) of any
22
condition
or event that constitutes a violation or default, or becoming aware that any
lender has given any notice or taken any other action with respect to a claimed
violation or default under the instruments governing then outstanding debt and
preferred stock, (ii) that any Person has given any notice to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or taken any other action with respect to a claimed
default or event or condition that would be required to be disclosed in a
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC or (iii) of any
condition or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, an officer’s certificate specifying the nature
and period of existence of such condition or event, or specifying the notice
given or action taken by such holder or Person and the nature of such claimed
violation, default, event or condition, and what action the Company has taken,
is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(i)
Litigation:
promptly upon any executive officer of the Company obtaining knowledge of (i)
the institution of any action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or
arbitration against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company
not previously disclosed by the Company to the Stockholders or (ii) any
material adverse development in any such action, suit, proceeding, governmental
investigation or arbitration that, in each case involves claims in excess of
$5,000,000 in the aggregate or would reasonably be expected to cause a Material
Adverse Effect, the Company shall promptly give notice thereof to each
Stockholder and provide such other information as may be reasonably available
to the Company or its Subsidiaries to enable the Stockholders and their
respective counsel to evaluate such matters; provided that
the Company shall not be required to provide any information or documents to
the extent they are protected by the attorney-client privilege;
(j)
ERISA
Events: (i)
promptly upon (and in any event within 10 days after) becoming aware of the
occurrence of or forthcoming occurrence of any ERISA Event, with a written
notice specifying the nature thereof, what action the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and,
when known, any action taken or threatened by the Internal Revenue Service, the
Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto and (ii) within two
Business Days after receipt of any notice from the PBGC stating the PBCG’s
intent to terminate a Title IV Plan or to have a trustee appointed to
administer a Title IV Plan, a copy of such notice;
(k)
ERISA
Notices: with
reasonable promptness, copies of (i) all notices, records, documents and other
information received by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the
PBGC relating to an ERISA Event, (ii) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information)
to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Company or any of its
ERISA Affiliates with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each Title
IV Plan, if any, (iii) within 10 days after receipt, all notices received by
the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor
concerning an ERISA Event and (iv) each notice of the amount of liability
incurred or may be incurred by the Company or an ERISA Affiliate upon an event
set forth in (iii) of this Section 7.1(k);
(l)
Financial
Plans: as
soon as practicable after delivered to the Board, any budget and financial
forecast for the Company and its Subsidiaries, including (i) a forecasted
operating cash flows statement of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the next
succeeding
23
fiscal
year and (ii) forecasted operating cash flows statement of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for each fiscal quarter of the next succeeding fiscal year;
and
(m)
Other
Information: with
reasonable promptness, such other information and data with respect to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as from time to time may be
reasonably requested by the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU Parties.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any information or
document pursuant to subsections (h) through (k) of this Section 7.1 to the
extent such information or document is included in a Current Report on Form 8-K
filed by the Company with the SEC and the Company delivers such 8-K to the
Stockholders, including by means of email transmission, within one Business Day
following such filing.
7.2
Provision of Information
Each
Stockholder shall provide the Company with such information regarding itself
and its Affiliates, directors, partners, officers and employees as the Company
may from time to time reasonably request in connection with filings to be made
or information to be provided to accrediting bodies and regulatory
bodies.
Section
8. Transactions with Affiliates
Except
for transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement or any of the
Transaction Agreements, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any transaction or
agreement with one or more of (A) the Company’s directors or officers or
with any Person in which one or more of the Company’s directors or
officers are directors or officers or have a financial or other interest, (B)
the Company’s Affiliates or the directors, officers and Affiliates of such
Persons or (C) the Stockholders or their respective directors, officers and
Affiliates, unless such transaction or agreement has been approved by the Board
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to such
transaction and agreement.
Section
9. NBCU Right of First Offer
(a)
So long
as the NBCU Parties own the Minimum Investment, if the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries at any time intends to effect a Station Transfer to any Person
other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company (a “Station
Third Party”),
the Company shall first give written notice (a “Station
Offer Notice”)
to the NBCU Parties, stating the Company’s intention to make such a
Station Transfer, the assets or securities proposed to be transferred, the
proposed consideration sought for such assets or securities (the
“Station
Offer Price”)
and in reasonable detail all other material terms and conditions upon which
such Station Transfer is proposed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the NBCU
Parties shall not be entitled to a right of first offer with respect to the
assets or securities of any Company Station that is not located in one of the
fifty largest DMAs.
(b)
Upon
receipt of the Station Offer Notice, the NBCU Parties shall have an option to
purchase all of the assets or securities proposed to be transferred at the
Station Offer Price and on the other material terms and condition set forth in
the Station Offer Notice, which
24
option
may be exercised by written notice to the Company given within 45 days of the
NBCU Parties’ receipt of the Station Offer Notice.
(c)
If the
NBCU Parties exercise its option pursuant to Section 9.1(b), the closing of
such purchase shall take place within 45 days of the date the NBCU Parties give
notice of such exercise, except to the extent FCC approval is required or
reasonably advisable for the transaction, in which case the closing shall take
place as soon as practicable after receipt of final, non-appealable approval
from the FCC.
(d)
If the
NBCU Parties determine not to exercise its option, then for a period of 45 days
from the earlier of (i) the expiration of the offer to the NBCU Parties and
(ii) the receipt of written notice from the NBCU Parties stating that the NBCU
Parties do not intend to exercise its option, or for such longer period
required or reasonably advisable for FCC approval, the Company shall be free to
sell the proposed assets or securities to the Station Third Party at a price
equal to or greater than the Station Offer Price and on substantially the same
terms as set forth in the Station Offer Notice.
Section
10. Company Equity Issuances
In the
event the Approval Stockholders approve a Sale of Stock by the Company pursuant
to Section 5(h), the Company shall Sell such Stock (other than Excluded
Securities) (“Issuance
Stock”)
only in accordance with the following procedures and any purported Sale of
Issuance Stock by the Company in violation of this Section 10 shall be null and
void:
(a) The
Company shall deliver to the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU Parties
(collectively, the “Preemptive
Stockholders”)
a written notice (a “Preemptive
Offer Notice”)
which shall (i) state the Company’s intention to Sell shares of Issuance
Stock to one or more Persons, the amount and type of Issuance Stock to be Sold,
the purchase price therefor and all other material terms of the proposed Sale
and (ii) offer (the “Preemptive
Offer”)
each of the Preemptive Stockholders the option to acquire all or any part of
Issuance Stock; provided that
the Company need not deliver a Preemptive Offer Notice or make a Preemptive
Offer in connection with a Sale of Issuance Stock if each of the CIG Media
Parties and the NBCU Parties notifies the Company that it will not elect to
purchase any portion of its Preemptive Percentage of Issuance Stock pursuant to
such Preemptive Offer. The Preemptive Offer shall remain open and irrevocable
for a period of 20 days after receipt of the Preemptive Offer Notice by
each Preemptive Stockholder (the “Preemptive
Acceptance Period”)
(and, to the extent the Preemptive Offer is accepted during the Preemptive
Acceptance Period, until the consummation of the Sale contemplated by the
Preemptive Offer). Each Preemptive Stockholder shall have the right and option
to accept the Preemptive Offer for all or any portion of its Preemptive
Percentage of Issuance Stock at the price and on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Preemptive Offer Notice, by delivering to the
Company within the Preemptive Acceptance Period a written notice (the
“Acceptance
Notice”)
specifying its Preemptive Percentage and the number of shares of Issuance Stock
such Preemptive Stockholder will purchase (the “Accepted
Shares”).
(b) In the
event the Company does not receive the Acceptance Notices from the Preemptive
Stockholders during the Preemptive Acceptance period with respect to all of
25
Issuance
Stock offered for Sale pursuant to the Preemptive Offer Notice, the Company may
Sell all or any portion of such Issuance Stock so offered for Sale and not so
accepted, at a price not less than the price and on terms not more favorable to
the purchaser thereof than the terms, in each case as set forth in the
Preemptive Offer Notice, at any time within 90 days after the expiration
of the Preemptive Acceptance Period (the “Issuance
Period”);
provided that,
in connection with and as a condition to such Sale, each purchaser or recipient
of such Issuance Stock who is not then a Stockholder shall execute and deliver
to the Company (which the Company shall then deliver to all of the
Stockholders) a joinder agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. In
the event that all of Issuance Stock is not so Sold by the Company during the
Issuance Period, the right of the Company to Sell such unsold Issuance Stock
shall expire and the obligations of this Section 10 shall be reinstated
and such Issuance Stock shall not be Sold unless first reoffered to the
Stockholders in accordance with this Section 10.
(c) All
Sales of
Issuance Stock to the Preemptive Stockholders subject
to any Preemptive Offer Notice shall be consummated contemporaneously at the
offices of the Company on the later of (i) a mutually satisfactory
Business Day within 15 days after the expiration of the Preemptive
Acceptance Period or (ii) the fifth Business Day following the expiration
or termination of all waiting periods under the HSR Act and receipt of all
necessary FCC and other regulatory approvals applicable to such Sale, or at
such other time or place as the Company and the Preemptive Stockholders may
mutually agree. The delivery by the Company to the Preemptive Stockholders of
certificates or other instruments evidencing such Issuance Stock shall be made
on such date upon receipt of payment of the purchase price for such Issuance
Stock by the Company from such Preemptive Stockholders.
Section
11. Legend. Each
Stockholder and the Company shall take all such action necessary (including
surrendering to the Company certificates representing shares of Stock issued
prior to the date hereof) to cause each certificate representing outstanding
shares of Stock owned by a Stockholder to bear a legend containing the
following words:
“THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, EXCHANGED, TRANSFERRED OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS.”
“THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON
TRANSFER, VOTING AND THE OTHER TERMS SET FORTH IN THE STOCKHOLDERS’
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2007 AMONG THE COMPANY, CIG MEDIA LLC AND NBC
UNIVERSAL, INC., THE PUT/CALL AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 4, 2007 BETWEEN CIG
MEDIA LLC AND NBC UNIVERSAL, INC., THE CALL AGREEMENT DATED MAY 4, 2007 BETWEEN
CIG MEDIA LLC AND NBC PALM
26
BEACH
INVESTMENT II, INC., AND THE CALL AGREEMENT DATED MAY 4, 2007 BETWEEN THE
COMPANY AND NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT I, INC., IN EACH CASE, AS THE SAME MAY BE
AMENDED OR AMENDED AND RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE
IN THE OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.”
The
requirement that the above securities legend be placed upon certificates
evidencing shares of Stock owned by a Stockholder shall cease and terminate
upon the earliest of the following events: (i) when such shares are Sold
in a Public Sale, (ii) when such shares are Sold pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act or (iii) when such shares are Sold in any other
transaction if such Stockholder delivers to the Company an opinion of its
counsel, which counsel and opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Company, or a “no-action” letter from the staff of the SEC, in either
case to the effect that such legend is no longer necessary in order to protect
the Company against a violation by it of the Securities Act upon any Sale of
such shares without registration thereunder. Upon the occurrence of any of the
foregoing events, the Company, upon the surrender by such Stockholder of
certificates containing such legend, shall, at its own expense, promptly
deliver to such Stockholder of any such shares as to which the requirement for
such legend shall have terminated, one or more new certificates evidencing such
shares not bearing such legend.
Section
12. Representations and Warranties. Each
party hereto represents and warrants to the other parties hereto as
follows:
(a) Such
party has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite power
and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted and proposed to
be conducted.
(b) Such
party has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
perform its obligations hereunder.
(c) This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by such
party, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such party,
enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms.
(d) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such party does not
and will not (A) violate, conflict with, or constitute a breach of or default
under such party’s organizational documents or (B) violate any law,
regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction or decree applicable to such
party.
(e) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it does not and will
not (A) require it to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or other
order of, or to make any filing, registration or qualification with any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body (except such
as may have previously been obtained or is permitted to be, and will be, filed
or made promptly following the date hereof) or (B) violate, conflict with
(subject to Section 2(b)), constitute a breach or default under, or result in
the
27
imposition
of a Lien on any of such party’s material properties pursuant to, any
agreement, arrangement, commitment or undertaking to which such party is a
party or by which such party is bound and which would adversely affect such
party’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
(f) Except
as provided in Section 12(e), such party is not a party to any agreement which
is inconsistent with the rights of any party hereunder or otherwise conflicts
with the provisions hereof.
Section
13. Competitive Opportunities. The
Company and each of the Stockholders agrees and acknowledges that each of the
CIG Media Parties, the NBCU Parties and any of their respective Affiliates,
directors, officers or employees may at any time possess or acquire knowledge
of a potential transaction or matter which may be a Competitive Opportunity and
may exploit a Competitive Opportunity or engage in, or hold interests in, one
or more businesses that may compete with a business of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries. The Company and each of the Stockholders agree and
acknowledge that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have an
interest in, or expectation that, such Competitive Opportunity be offered to
it, any such interest or expectation being hereby renounced so that each of the
CIG Media Parties, the NBCU Parties, and their respective Affiliates,
directors, officers and employees (i) shall have no duty to communicate or
present such Competitive Opportunity to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
(ii) shall have the right to hold any such Competitive Opportunity for its
own account, or to recommend, assign or otherwise transfer such Competitive
Opportunity to Persons other than the Company and its Subsidiaries and
(iii) shall not be liable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
their respective stockholders by reason of the fact that it pursues or acquires
such Competitive Opportunity for itself, directs or Sells such Competitive
Opportunity to another Person, does not communicate information regarding such
Competitive Opportunity to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, engages in,
or holds any interest in, any business that competes with any business of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section
14. Duration of Agreement. Other
than Section 3.6, the rights and obligations of a Stockholder under this
Agreement shall terminate at such time as such Stockholder no longer owns any
shares of Stock; provided, that
the termination of the rights and obligations of a Stockholder shall not
relieve such Stockholder of any liability arising out of or resulting from any
knowing, willful or intentional breach of this Agreement by such Stockholder
prior to the termination.
Section
15. Further Assurances. The
parties shall cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party,
execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and use reasonable
best efforts to take or cause to be taken all appropriate action as the other
party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to otherwise carry out
the intent of the parties hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company shall make and shall cause its Subsidiaries to make, as
promptly as practicable following the reasonable request of the NBCU Parties,
all filings required to be made by the Company or its Subsidiaries under
applicable law, including the Communications Act and the HSR Act, with respect
to the exercise of NBCU Option I, and shall take all reasonable steps within
its control (including providing information to the relevant Governmental
Entity) and reasonably cooperate with the NBCU Parties in seeking to
28
obtain
any required consents or approvals as promptly as practicable.
Section
16. Amendment and Waiver.
This
Agreement may be amended or modified, and any provision hereof may be waived,
but in each case only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the
party against whom such amendment, modification or waiver is sought to be
enforced; provided,
however, that
the provisions of Section 6 may be modified, amended or waived only if set
forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Company, the CIG Media Parties
and the NBCU Parties. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions
of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions
and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce any
provision hereof in accordance with its terms.
Section
17. Entire Agreement. This
Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements and the other writings referred to
herein or therein or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto which form a part
hereof or thereof contain the entire agreement and understanding among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof or thereof and
supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations
by or among the parties, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter
hereof or thereof.
Section
18. Successors and Assigns. Other
than Section 3.6 which is intended to be for the benefit of the Persons covered
thereby and may be enforced by such Persons, this Agreement shall inure solely
to the benefit of and be solely enforceable by the Company, each Stockholder
and its respective successors and permitted assignees. This Agreement shall not
be assigned by any party hereto or any Stockholder without the express prior
written consent of all of the parties hereto, except that the CIG Media Parties
and the NBCU Parties may each assign all or any of their rights and obligations
hereunder to their Affiliates or to any Stockholder to whom the CIG Media
Parties or the NBCU Parties, as the case may be, have transferred Stock in
accordance with this Agreement; provided, that
no rights under Sections 4, 5 or 9 may be assigned; provided,
further, that
no such assignment shall relieve the CIG Media Parties and the NBCU Parties, as
the case may be, of their respective obligations hereunder with respect to any
assignment to their respective Affiliates, with respect to any Stock not
transferred or not otherwise transferred in accordance with this Agreement, and
with respect to any breach of this Agreement prior to such assignment. For the
avoidance of doubt, in the event either the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU
Parties, as the case may be, assign all or any of their rights under Section
3.1(b) to one or more Stockholders pursuant to this Section 18, the aggregate
number of directors to be designated or nominated, as applicable, by the CIG
Media Parties or the NBCU Parties, as the case may be, and such Stockholders
shall not exceed the number of directors the CIG Media Parties or the NBCU
Parties, as the case may be, are entitled to designate or nominate pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) immediately prior to such assignment.
Section
19. Severability.
Whenever possible, each term and provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law.
If any term or provision hereof is invalid, illegal or incapable of being
enforced by law or public policy, all other terms and provisions hereof shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties
hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
the original intent of the parties as closely as
29
possible
in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated
hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent
possible.
Section
20. Remedies. The
parties agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy
for any breach of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that each
party hereto, each Stockholder and, with respect to Section 3.6, each Person
covered thereby, may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity
of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and injunctive relief in
order to enforce, or prevent any violation of, the provisions hereof, in
addition to any other remedy at law or equity.
Section
21. Notices. All
notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party
hereto or any Stockholder shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a
written instrument delivered in person, by telecopy, by overnight courier or by
first class registered or certified mail (return receipt requested, postage
prepaid) to such party at the address set forth below (or at such other address
or to the attention of such other Person as shall be specified by such party in
a notice given in accordance with this Section 21) and to any Stockholder at
such address as indicated by the Company’s records (or at such address or
to the attention of such other Person as shall be specified by such Stockholder
in a notice given in accordance with this Section 21):
(i) if to
the Company, to:
ION
Media Networks, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
General Counsel
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
with a
copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
30
Holland
& Knight LLP
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
and
Dow,
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, PLLC
0000 Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
(ii) if to
the CIG Media Parties, to:
CIG
Media LLC
000 X.
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
with a
copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Fried,
Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
Xxx Xxx
Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Fax: (000)
000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
(iii) if to
the NBCU Parties, to:
00
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
General Counsel
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
with a
copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Shearman
& Sterling LLP
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
00
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Tel:
000-000-0000
Fax:
000-000-0000
All such
notices, requests, consents and other communications will be deemed to have
been given hereunder when received.
Section
22. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial. This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed
in that State. All actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this
Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any New York state or
federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York. The
parties hereto hereby (a) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or
federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan of The City of New York for
the purpose of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (b) irrevocably waive, and agree not
to assert by way of motion, defense, or otherwise, in any such action or
proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of
the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment
or execution, that the action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient
forum, that the venue of the action or proceeding is improper, or that this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may not be enforced in or by
any of the above-named courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law any right it may have to a trial by
jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of,
under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby. Each of the parties hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent
or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that
such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the
foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other hereto have been
induced to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section
22.
Section
23. Construction. Where
specific language is used to clarify by example a general statement contained
herein, such specific language shall not be deemed to modify, limit or restrict
in any manner the construction of the general statement to which it relates.
The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen
by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict
construction shall be applied against any party. The descriptive headings of
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part
of this Agreement.
Section
24. Survival of Representations and Warranties. All
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or made in writing
by any party in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
regardless of any investigation made by, or on behalf of, any
Stockholder.
Section
25. Conflicting Agreements. Each
Stockholder represents and warrants that such Stockholder (a) has not granted
and is not a party to any proxy, voting trust or
32
other
agreement which conflicts with any provision of this Agreement and (b) shall
not grant any proxy or become party to any voting trust or other agreement
which conflicts with any provision of this Agreement.
Section
26. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which shall be an
original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
33
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.
ION
MEDIA NETWORKS, INC. |
||
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
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Name:Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Title:
Chief Financial Officer |
CIG
MEDIA LLC |
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By: | Citadel Limited Partnership, its Portfolio Manager | |
By: | Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
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Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title:
Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel |
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By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
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Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature
Page to Stockholders’ Agreement]
EXHIBIT
A
JOINDER
AGREEMENT
By
execution of this Joinder Agreement, the undersigned agrees to be bound by the
terms of that certain Stockholders’ Agreement dated as of May 4, 2007,
among ION Media Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation, CIG Media LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, and NBC Universal, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (as such agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or
restated from time to time, the “Stockholders’
Agreement”).
The undersigned shall have all the rights, observe all the obligations and make
all representations and warranties, in each case applicable to a Stockholder
(as defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement) assigned to such Person in
accordance with the Stockholders’ Agreement and agree to be bound by
Section 22 of the Stockholders’ Agreement as if it were a party
thereto.
Stockholder
Name: ______________
Address for Notices: |
with
copies to: |
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By: | ||
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Name: | ||
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Title: | ||
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Date: | ||
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